This is a first; instead of me asking at a restaurant what medium-rare means — temperature-wise — the waitress tonight asked Amy after she ordered lamb chops, "What temperature would you like those at?"

I immediately jumped in, blowing my food safety cover, and asked, "You actually have thermometers back in the kitchen?"

She said, "Yes."

I’ve been a food safety geek for coming up on 15 years. No one has ever asked me what temperature I wanted my food.

I couldn’t believe it.

The occasion was Angelique’s birthday, so Amy and I, along with Bob, decided to take our friend to the newest Manhattan (Kansas) eatery, della Voce.

When ordering, the waitress told us the meat on the menu was hormone and antibiotic free. Uh-oh, I thought, another over-priced food porn joint. Not interested.

But, the food was good and the atmosphere was great for a leisurely 2.5 hour meal. Stick it in.